Kazimir Vilenchik, P.E. Will Continue as DOB First Deputy Commissioner
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointments of Jimmy Oddo as the commissioner for the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) and Molly Wasow Park as the commissioner for the New York City Department of Social Services (DSS). DOB Acting Commissioner Kazimir Vilenchik, P.E. will return to his previous role as the agency’s first deputy commissioner.
Following more than a year as chief of staff to Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, overseeing the city’s physical infrastructure and public space, Commissioner Oddo will lead the administration’s critical building and construction safety work while continuing to support the city’s economic recovery. The current acting commissioner at DSS and former first deputy commissioner at the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS), Commissioner Park will oversee both DHS, which provides shelter to thousands of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness and helps them transition to permanent housing, as well as the Human Resources Administration (HRA), which assists more than 3 million low‐income and vulnerable New Yorkers annually through more than 12 major public benefits programs.
“Our administration has always been laser-focused on finding the right people for the right jobs at the right time, and Jimmy Oddo and Molly Wasow Park are exactly those people,” said Mayor Adams. “Commissioner Oddo is an expert at building and running high-functioning teams, and he will bring the leadership the Department of Buildings needs to oversee our city’s buildings and protect New Yorkers who work in construction and walk on our streets. Commissioner Park has a proven track record of helping connect thousands of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness on our subways to shelter and making it easier for people to access critical services, and I am confident she has the experience, vision, and compassion to continue leading this agency and make life better for those in need. Each of them brings decades of invaluable experience to the job, and New Yorkers thank them for stepping up to serve at this crucial time.”
“Mayor Adams has built a team of leaders who ‘Get Stuff Done’ for New Yorkers, and I’m excited to continue working with Commissioner Oddo and Commissioner Park in their new roles,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “I have had the privilege of working with both of them over the last year, and I have complete confidence that they will do everything in their power to keep New Yorkers safe, deliver the quality of life our neighbors deserve, and advance the mission of building a safer, fairer city.”
“I trust that Jimmy Oddo will be an effective commissioner and serve our city well. He is an experienced and proven leader who will use his skill sets to continue to move the Department of Buildings forward,” said Chief Advisor to the Mayor Ingrid Lewis-Martin. “Molly Park brings decades of experience to her new role as commissioner and will help the city continue its commitment to provide shelter and housing to those most in need.”
“Jimmy Oddo brings the highest level of passion, empathy, and smarts to public service, and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Operations has been the grateful beneficiary of the ‘Oddo Effect,’” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “In his new role, his excellent leadership and acumen will ensure the Department of Buildings meets the real and pressing needs of New Yorkers who depend on it to ensure safety standards are in place and for building continuity. I truly look forward to working with Commissioner Oddo in his new capacity, and I am deeply appreciative to First Deputy Commissioner Vilenchik for serving in his acting capacity.”
“I’m excited to count Commissioner Park as another smart, driven leader in the administration,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Her experience rooted in housing and case work makes her well-placed to take on the role of leading one of the city’s largest agencies and doing so with a person-centric view that will benefit every person that comes in contact with DSS. I look forward to continuing to work with her and the team at DSS.”
“Homelessness is a housing problem. There is no one who knows this better than Molly Park, which is why I am thrilled to see her appointed as commissioner of the Department of Social Services,” said Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. “Molly is a ‘houser’s houser,’ and having her lead DSS, overseeing DHS and HRA, shows New York City is on the right path to finally solving our homelessness crisis. She’ll need an army behind her, but having Molly at the helm demonstrates to our neighbors experiencing homelessness that they will get the services and support they need to find permanent housing.”
I am grateful for Mayor Adams’ continued belief in me, and I am excited to continue serving this city at the Department of Buildings,” said DOB Commissioner Oddo. “Ensuring the safety of every New Yorker and workers alike will always be the top priority. As we undertake that critical work, we will continue reorienting the agency to be more efficient and customer friendly. Having built and been a part of highly successful teams, I will work every day to foster a culture within the agency that best positions the talented professionals there to address and advance our agenda — from keeping New Yorkers safe and deploying cutting-edge technology to do so to reinvigorating our city’s public space. I am grateful to Deputy Mayor Joshi for her partnership these last 16 months, and I am thrilled to be able to continue to closely work with her and the talented operations team.”
“Homelessness, affordable housing, and economic insecurity are all intrinsically linked, and we must tackle all of these challenges to ensure every New Yorker can thrive,” said DSS Commissioner Park. “As commissioner, I look forward to drawing on my experience in both housing and social services to break down the silos that have traditionally existed and innovate to make each of these systems serve all New Yorkers. Thank you to Mayor Adams for this opportunity to continue serving this city and help build a stronger, more prosperous future for all.”
“A well-functioning Department of Buildings is essential to promoting both public safety and economic growth in our city,” said DOB First Deputy Commissioner Vilenchik. “Jimmy Oddo is a committed public servant with decades of government experience, and I am certain that he will continue the great progress already made under the Adams administration to streamline this agency. It is an honor to be staying on as first deputy commissioner at the department, where I can continue to provide my technical expertise in service to the people of this great city.”
At DOB, Oddo will accelerate the administration’s work of protecting construction workers and at-risk buildings, supporting the small businesses driving the city’s economic recovery, and implementing New York City’s nation-leading sustainability laws, including Local Law 97.
At DSS, Park will build on current work, helping New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness get connected to shelter, overseeing a range of public assistance programs to serve the most vulnerable, and responding to the continued asylum seeker crisis that New York City faces.
“Jimmy Oddo is an excellent choice to lead the Department of Buildings,” said Chief Climate Officer and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Rohit T. Aggarwala. “He is a deeply thoughtful and values-driven public servant, and I have gained so much working with him these last 15 months. Jimmy understands the importance of Local Law 97, as well as the challenge we will face in achieving the climate mobilization it requires. I look forward to working closely with him on Local Law 97 and on many other things.”
“Jimmy Oddo will make a spectacular commissioner of the Department of Buildings,” said New York City Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “Throughout his decades of work across city government, I have looked up to Jimmy as the gold standard for public service. He is passionate about his work, thoughtful in his approach, wise about how government can and should serve the people, and one of the finest human beings I have had the pleasure to work alongside.”
“I commend Mayor Adams for making this outstanding appointment,” said former First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo. “I’ve been privileged to work with Jimmy Oddo for more than 15 years, and I believe there is no one who is better qualified to lead the Department of Buildings and ‘Get Stuff Done!’”
“Molly Park has demonstrated that she is an extraordinary public servant who is committed to innovative leadership focused on what is best for New Yorkers in need,” said New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Daniel W. Tietz. “Mayor Adams has made an excellent choice in appointing Molly as Commissioner of the Department of Social Services, and I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively on our shared goals in the months and years ahead.”
No comments:
Post a Comment